"Family Business" Can Finally Start to Apply to LGBT Business Owners

Join us in celebrating an emotional, thrilling, and historic day with the estimated 1.4 million lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) business owners in this country. The United States Supreme Court has overturned Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act and dismissed the Proposition 8 case, bringing same-sex marriage back to California. When we started the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) a little more than 10 years ago, this nation was a vastly different place for LGBT people. We are overwhelmed and proud of how far our country has come.

Today is a victory, but this journey for LGBT business owners is far from over. Overturning of Section 3 of DOMA has ensured that Congress cannot treat married same-sex couples differently from heterosexual couples in federal laws and in federal programs like Social Security benefits, immigration, and income taxes. However, we still have more obstacles to hurdle to ensure that LGBT business owners can finally secure and protect their businesses and pass on their wealth to their families.

Further work still needs to be done in proper implementation of federal benefits for same-sex couples that are already married or are planning to get married. NGLCC urges federal and state governments to work together to fully grant all legal benefits to married same-sex couples.